III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 144 

Supporting early detection for breast cancer. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 13, 2011 

Mrs. HUTCHISON submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting early detection for breast cancer. 

Whereas the 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer 

has increased from 74 percent in 1979 to 90 percent in 

2011; 

Whereas when breast cancer is detected early and confined to 

the breast, the 5-year relative survival rate is 98 percent; 

Whereas the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (referred to in this preamble as the 

‘‘NBCCEDP’’) was established by the Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 

300k et seq.) to provide early detection services for lowincome women who are uninsured or underinsured and do 

not qualify for Medicaid; 

Whereas the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and 

Treatment Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–354; 114 Stat. 


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•SRES 144 IS 

1381) allows for breast cancer treatment assistance to be 

provided through Medicaid to eligible women who were 

screened through the NBCCEDP; 

Whereas NBCCEDP and the provisions of the Breast and 

Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000 

(Public Law 106–354; 114 Stat. 1381) have effectively 

reduced mortality among low-income uninsured and medically underserved women with breast cancer; 

Whereas early detection of breast cancer increases survival 

rates for the disease, as evidenced by a 5-year relative 

survival rate of 98 percent for breast cancers that are 

discovered before the cancer spreads beyond the breast, 

compared to 23 percent for stage IV breast cancers; 

Whereas the cost of treating stage IV breast cancers is more 

than 5 times more expensive than the cost of treating 

stage I breast cancers; 

Whereas as of the date of agreement to this resolution, the 

economy has placed a strain on State budgets while increasing the demand for safety-net services; 

Whereas significant disparities in breast cancer outcomes persist across racial and ethnic groups; 

Whereas breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and is the leading cause of cancer death among 

women worldwide; 

Whereas in 2011, more than 200,000 women and men will 

be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 

will die of breast cancer in the United States; 

Whereas every woman should have access to life-saving 

screening and treatment that is not dependent on where 

she lives; 


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Whereas investments in cancer research have improved the 

understanding of the different types of breast cancer and 

led to more effective, personalized treatments; and 

Whereas organizations such as Susan G. Komen for the 

Cure empower women with knowledge and awareness, 

ensure access to quality care, and energize science to discover and deliver cures for breast cancer: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) remains committed to ensuring access to 

3 life-saving breast cancer screening, diagnostic, and 

4 treatment services, particularly for medically under5 served women; 

6 (2) supports increasing awareness and improv7 ing education about breast cancer, the importance of 

8 early detection, and the availability of screening 

9 services for women in need; and 

10 (3) remains committed to discovering and deliv11 ering cures for breast cancer and encouraging the 

12 development of screening tools that are more accu13 rate and less costly. 

Æ 


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